How many medicines should I be taking for my symptoms of depression?
There are no easy answers to this and it is a very individual choice. Below are some of the combinations that are used with the reasons. This is not a complete list but you might want to talk to your prescriber about any not on this list.
Generally just the one antidepressant is best, as many combinations can have interactions and be dangerous (including when switching from one to another). Combining drugs of a similar way of working is usually pointless and may give more side effects. Sometime combining medicines can help reduce side effects.
| Main medicine | Second medicine | Reason |
| A serotonin booster (e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, duloxetine or trazodone) | Mirtazapine | May help side effects such as sexual ones (e.g. not being able to have an orgasm), anxiety and agitation |
| A serotonin booster (e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, duloxetine or trazodone) | Reboxetine | If the SSRI has only been partly effective |
| A serotonin booster (e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, duloxetine or trazodone) | Tryptophan | Depression that’s hard to treat |
| A serotonin booster (e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, duloxetine or trazodone) | Lithium (and possibly tryptophan too) | Depression that’s really hard to treat |
| A serotonin booster (e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, duloxetine or trazodone) | Benzodiazepines (e.g. clonazepam, lorazepam, diazepam) for a few weeks | If agitiation happens when you start the antidepressant |
| A serotonin booster (e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, duloxetine or trazodone) | Mood stabiliser e.g. valproate, lithium etc or lamotrigine | In the depression is part of bipolar mood disorder |
| Any antidepressant | Antipsychotics (e.g. risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, pericyazine) | If there is agitation or psychotic symptoms |